Election 2025: David Littleproud’s electorate is underwater, he’s fundraising in Brisbane

Nationals leader David Littleproud has quietly held a $5000-a-head election fundraiser in Brisbane while much of his western Queensland electorate is being ravaged by floodwaters.

Nationals leader David Littleproud, left, and Peter Dutton, right, meet John ‘Tractor’ Ferguson, the Bulloo Shire mayor, at Thargomindah, where there was major flooding on Monday. Picture: James Brickwood

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Nationals leader David Littleproud has quietly held a $5000-a-head election fundraiser in Brisbane while much of his western Queensland electorate is being ravaged by floodwaters that have caused billions of dollars of damage in livestock deaths, destroyed homes and wrecked infrastructure.

The Australian can reveal the Maranoa MP took a break from the Nationals leader’s traditional “wombat trail” election campaign route through regional electorates to schmooze Liberal National Party donors at the secretive event in inner Brisbane on Thursday night.

“We can’t afford another three years of (Anthony Albanese and Labor),” the invitation from Nationals corporate relations manager Beth Gazard reads. “That’s why we’re holding a critical fundraising event – and we need you there.

“Your support will help us take our message to more Austral­ians and offer a clear alternative: real economic management, lower inflation and a better future.”

Invitees – who were told the precise location of the event would be disclosed only when they bought a $5000 ticket and confirmed their attendance – were promised a “private dinner event and discussion” with Mr Littleproud from 5pm AEST.

Mr Littleproud’s electorate of Maranoa takes in all of the towns inundated by the flooding disaster that is gripping the state’s southwest, including remote Quilpie, Thargomindah, Jundah and Adavale.

The floods are worse than the historically bad 1974 disaster, and the Barcoo, Thomson and Cooper rivers have hit record peaks. At least 150,000 head of cattle, sheep, goats and horses are estimated to have died in the flood that has swamped an area twice the size of Victoria.

Flooding in western Queensland on Monday. Picture: James Brickwood

Quilpie Shire mayor Ben Hall warned that graziers in his region were likely to go “three years without income”.

“That’s three years before they generate a dollar, not making a living,” Mr Hall told The Australian.

“They may be able to keep their head above water for a period, but realistically, what are they going to survive off when their entire livelihood has been wiped out?”

People had to be rescued by helicopter in Adavale, and residents in Thargomindah had to flee the town’s evacuation centre for higher ground on the airstrip.

A spokeswoman for the Nationals declined to comment.

Mr Littleproud was in flood-hit Quilpie on Saturday last week as the federal government announced Category D funding for flood victims and $2.5m in state and federal cash to drop fodder for stranded cattle.

“This disaster requires a bipartisan approach to ensure locals get the assistance they need,” Mr Littleproud said. “I have spoken with and thanked the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader and the Queensland Premier for this funding.”

On Monday, Mr Littleproud and Peter Dutton went to Thargomindah to announce a Coalition government would spend $10m on a new weather radar for western Queensland, after locals described “flying blind” without the vital piece of equipment.